Halsey’s Music Videos Get Caught Up In YouTube’s New Restrictions On LGBTQ Content

Anyone hoping to see some of Halsey’s music videos will have to make sure their SafeSearch is turned off. That’s because sweeping new restrictions instituted by YouTube are blocking a lot of LGBTQ content from seeing the light of day. Halsey’s videos for “New Americana” and “Ghost” are both invisible in restricted mode now–in addition to a dozen other videos uploaded to her channel. The videos will not appear in search results or on Halsey’s YouTube account when the SafeSearch restrictions are in effect for a user.

The news comes after several out and proud YouTubers noticed that their educational content–some of it focused on LGBTQ youth–suffered from the same restrictions. Tyler Oakley, a vlogger noted for his activist work, tweeted about the situation after discovering one of his videos on black LGBTQ role models was restricted.

Many of Tyler’s five and a half million followers joined in on a groundswell of people asking YouTube about the new policy, especially as content aimed at helping LGBTQ kids was targeted. YouTube didn’t address any concerns about specific videos, but did say it’s looking into the SafeSearch restrictions’ effects on creators in the LGBTQ community.

The restrictions on Halsey’s videos are less puzzling than the ones on educational videos, but her fans are still crying foul. “Ghost” features Halsey in a PG-13 encounter with another woman and “New Americana” tells the story of a post-apocalyptic witch burning. Fans believe Halsey’s sexuality plays a role in why both videos are among those restricted now.

Halsey has yet to comment on the situation. Maybe she’s just waiting for YouTube’s findings, or maybe she doesn’t mind adding a little maturity to her image. Either way, it’s something to keep in mind as she prepares to release new music.

See what YouTube’s new restrictions do to search results for Halsey’s videos below, plus see more tweets and reactions to the news. You can also see what Halsey’s Vevo page looks like with and without SafeSearch restrictions on.